Air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner is provided that may minimize lengths of pipes connecting a plurality of indoor devices and an outdoor device, facilitate connection between respective refrigerant pipes through a distribution device, and omit a separate cable to transmit/receive a control signal between the plurality of indoor devices and the distribution device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0021708, filed in Korea on Mar. 11, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

An air conditioner is disclosed herein.

2. Background

Air conditioners are known. However, they suffer from various disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating various installation positions of the distribution device of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating a portion of the air conditioner of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5 to 13 are perspective views illustrating a distribution device of the air conditioner of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate only an exemplary form provided to describe embodiments in more detail and should not be construed as limiting the technical scope.

Where possible, like elements are denoted by like reference numerals, even though depicted in different drawings, and a detailed description, thereof, will thus be omitted. In the drawings, the size and shape of respective constituent members may be exaggerated or reduced for clarity.

Further, it will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. The terms will be used only to distinguish one element from other elements.

An air conditioner is a cooling/heating system that cools a room by repeatedly performing a series of operations, including suctioning indoor air, performing heat exchange between a low-temperature refrigerant and the suctioned indoor air, and discharging the heat-exchanged air into the room, or heats a room by repeatedly performing the above operations for cooling in reverse. The air conditioner has a series of cycles constituted by a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger.

Recent air conditioners have added various functions, such as an air purification function for suctioning contaminated indoor air, filtering the suctioned air, and resupplying the filtered air into an air conditioning space, and a dehumidification function for dehumidifying humid air while circulating the humid air and resupplying the dehumidified air into the air conditioning space, in addition to cooling and heating of the air conditioning space.

Air conditioners generally may be classified into separate air conditioners, in which each of an outdoor unit or device and an indoor unit or device are mounted in a separate manner, and integrated air conditioners, in which each of an outdoor unit or device and an indoor unit or device are mounted in an integrated manner. In recent years, multi type air conditioners, in which each of a plurality of indoor units or devices are connected to a single outdoor unit or device so as to commonly use the outdoor unit or device, have been also used.

The multi type air conditioner has an effect equivalent to that obtained by installing a plurality of conventional separate air conditioners, each of which includes a single outdoor device and a single indoor device. Users may add indoor devices, as needed.

An outdoor device of an air conditioner may include an outdoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and air in an air conditioning space, in which the outdoor device is installed, and a compressor. With this structure, refrigerant circulated through respective indoor devices may be collected in the same outdoor device, and the collected refrigerant may be distributed to the respective indoor devices through a compression process and a condensing process (when a room is cooled), which may be repeatedly performed.

Multi type air conditioners, each of which includes a plurality of indoor devices and a single outdoor device connected to the respective indoor devices, have an advantage in that it is possible to reduce the number of outdoor devices. On the other hand, piping is complicated because the respective indoor devices are individually connected to the outdoor device. In addition, a length of pipes may be increased in proportion to the number of the outdoor devices if a distance between the outdoor devices and an air conditioning space increases.

In particular, an outdoor device of a multi type air conditioner may suction air from a front or rear of the outdoor device and discharge heat-exchanged air to the rear or front of the outdoor device. Consequently, an installation direction of the outdoor device may be specified in an installation space of the outdoor device. The outdoor device may be provided at a side thereof with indoor device-side connection parts, to which a refrigerant pipe connected to the indoor devices may be connected. However, a plurality of pipes may be bypassed to the front or rear of the outdoor device depending upon the installation direction of the outdoor device and a position of an air conditioning space, such that the pipes may be connected to the respective indoor device-side connection parts.

If the number of indoor devices is large, a length and volume of pipes connected to the outdoor device and the respective indoor devices may increase, which may deteriorate aesthetics of an installation space in which the outdoor device is installed.

In a case in which the refrigerant pipes detour around the outdoor device, the refrigerant pipes, which may be connected between all of the indoor devices and the outdoor device, may be bent, thereby increasing flow resistance of the refrigerant in all of the refrigerant pipes, which may decrease energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

An air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment may include an outdoor device including a main controller, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an air blower fan, a plurality of indoor devices, and a distribution device connected to the respective indoor devices and the outdoor device and including a cover assembly that surrounds a liquid refrigerant pipe assembly and a vapor refrigerant pipe assembly, respectively, provided with electronic expansion valves mounted thereon and a sub controller that communicates with the main controller. The electronic expansion valves may be selectively adjusted by the main controller of the outdoor device or the sub controller of the distribution device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment, including a plurality of indoor devices, an outdoor device, and a distribution device. FIG. 1A is a block diagram of the air conditioner of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating various installation positions of the distribution device of the air conditioner of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the air conditioner 1 may include at least two indoor devices 300A to 300E, an outdoor device 100, which may include a compressor 170 and an outdoor device case 110, and a distribution device 200, which may include at least two indoor device-side connection parts, respectively, connected to the indoor devices 300A to 300E, an outdoor device-side connection part connected to the outdoor device 100, and a cover assembly. The distribution device 200 may be detachably mounted in a mounting space within the outdoor device case 110. With reference to FIG. 2, the distribution device 200 may be installed at various positions according to positions of air conditioning spaces in which indoor devices (not shown) of the air conditioner are installed, and an installation direction of the outdoor device 100 of the air conditioner.

The outdoor device 100 may suck in outdoor air, perform heat-exchange with the outdoor air, and then discharge the heat-exchanged air in a specific direction (in a direction from a heat exchanger 140 to an air blower fan 103). If all indoor devices 300A to 300E are connected to the outdoor device 100 by respective pipes, the aesthetics of an installation space in which the outdoor device 100 is installed may be spoiled. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, if the outdoor device 100 and the respective indoor devices 300A to 300E are connected via the distribution device 200, a length of the pipes may be reduced in proportion to a distance between the outdoor device 100 and the distribution device 200.

However, if distances between an installation position of the outdoor device 100 and air conditioning spaces in which the respective indoor devices 300A to 300E are installed are short, it may be unnecessary to connect the outdoor device 100 and the respective indoor devices 300A to 300E via the distribution device 200. That is, it may be more advantageous to provide indoor device-side connection parts having a plurality of sockets connected to the respective indoor devices 300A to 300E on an outdoor device main body. In this case, installation of the separate distribution device 200 in an installation space at an outside of the outdoor device 100 may be inefficient.

Therefore, in a conventional multi type air conditioner including a plurality of indoor devices and an outdoor device, the outdoor device may be provided with indoor device-side connection parts connected to the respective indoor devices, or may be provided with a distribution device-side connection part connected to a separate distribution device as a precondition to use of the distribution device, and thus, the conventional multi type air conditioner cannot satisfy various user requirements.

Accordingly, the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment may include the distribution device 200 detachably mounted in the outdoor device 100, or embedded in the outdoor device 100.

In the conventional multi type air conditioner, even if the outdoor device and the indoor devices are connected via an external distribution device, communication cables that transmit/receive a control signal between the outdoor device and the distribution device and between the distribution device and the respective indoor devices may be required. However, in the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment, the outdoor device 100 may be directly connected to the respective indoor devices 300A to 300E via transmitting/receiving cables that transmit/receive a control signal, and a sub controller 400 of the distribution device 200 and the outdoor device 100 may be connected. That is, the distribution device 200 and the respective indoor devices may not be connected via separate communication cables that transmit/receive a control signal.

One advantage of the distribution device 200 of the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment is to minimize a length of refrigerant pipes connecting the outdoor device 100 and the distribution device 200, so as to reduce installation costs of the air conditioner and to improve aesthetic effects. Therefore, a shorter length of the refrigerant pipes may be favorable. However, the installation costs of the transmitting/receiving cables that transmit/receive the control signal may not be increased significantly due to the different lengths of the refrigerant pipes, and thus, minimization of connection parts of the transmitting/receiving cables may be achieved.

Further, in the conventional multi air conditioner in which a controller that controls the indoor devices is provided in the distribution device, the controller has a large volume, and thus, a space in the distribution device occupied by the controller is large. Therefore, in the conventional multi air conditioner, the size of the distribution device is large, and thus, efficiency in use of the distribution device may be reduced. Further, if the distribution device is installed outdoors, a structure that shields rainwater or moisture must also be considered or included and thus, an overall size of the distribution device may be further increased.

Further, the sub controller 400 mounted on the distribution device 200 may be provided in order to control electronic expansion valves or valves provided in the distribution device 200, separately from the main controller provided in the outdoor device 100.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views illustrating a portion of the air conditioner of FIG. 1. The outdoor device 100 may include the outdoor device case 110 forming an external appearance of the outdoor device 100, a compressor 170, and an outdoor heat exchanger 140, respectively, mounted in the outdoor device case 110. Further, a refrigerant pipe connection part 150 that respectively connects the compressor 170, the outdoor heat exchanger 140, and an outdoor device-side connection part 250 of the distribution device 200 may be provided in the outdoor device case 110. The refrigerant pipe connection part 150 may be provided above the distribution device 200.

Since openings to circulate outdoor air may be formed through front and/or rear surfaces of the outdoor device case 110, a mounting space to mount the distribution device 200 may be provided at or in an area in which a flow of sucked outdoor air having passed through the outdoor heat exchanger 140 may not be disturbed.

Therefore, the mounting space may be a space near any one of both side surfaces of an inner space of the outdoor device case 110. Further, the mounting space may be a space near the compressor 170.

Also, the compressor 170 provided in the outdoor device 100 may be located at a position in which the flow of the outdoor air is not disturbed. The position of the compressor 170 and the outdoor heat exchanger 140 in the inner space of the outdoor device case 110, at which the flow of the outdoor air is not disturbed, may be an edge of a side surface of the outdoor device case 110, and in order to form a plurality of indoor device-side connection parts 270 on the distribution device 200, the distribution device 200 may have a predetermined and sufficient length. Thus, the mounting space of the distribution device 200 may be located near a side surface of the outdoor device case 110 within the inner space of the outdoor device case 110.

Further, an opening may be formed through the outdoor device case 110 near the mounting space, as shown in FIG. 3. The indoor device-side connection parts 270 of the distribution device 200 may be exposed to the outside through the opening. The air conditioner may further include a cover member (not shown) that selectively opens and closes the opening of the outdoor device case 110.

When the mounting space of the distribution device 200 is determined to be an area near or at a side surface of the outdoor device case 110 within the inner space of the outdoor device case 110, the outdoor device-side connection part 250 of the distribution device 200 to be connected to the inside of the outdoor device 100 may be connected to the compressor 170 or the outdoor heat exchanger 140, while minimizing a distance of a refrigerant pipe connected to the compressor 170 or the outdoor heat exchanger 140.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outdoor device-side connection part 250 of the distribution device 200 and the pipe connection part 150 of the outdoor device 100 may be connected above the distribution device 200. The pipe connection part 150 may include a high pressure socket 151 and a low pressure socket 155, respectively, connected to a liquid refrigerant pipe assembly and a vapor refrigerant pipe assembly via the outdoor device-side connection part 250.

Hereinafter, a structure of the distribution device 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 13. For convenience of description, respective elements, such as a socket, will be named based on a cooling cycle of the air conditioner.

FIGS. 5 to 13 are perspective views illustrating the distribution device 200 of the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment. In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates the distribution device 200, and a mounting member 120 provided in the outdoor device case 110.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the distribution device 200 may be detachably mounted in the outdoor device case 110, and the mounting member 120, which may support the distribution device 200, may be provided in the mounting space of the distribution device 200 in the outdoor device case 110.

The mounting member 120 may have various structures capable of supporting the distribution device 200 without a separate fastening member. In one embodiment, the mounting member 120 may be a structure that supports a lower surface of the distribution device 200 and lower regions of two or more side surfaces of the distribution device 200.

In more detail, the mounting member 120 may include a horizontal part 121, on which the lower surface of the distribution device 200 may be seated, and a plurality of vertical parts 122, respectively, that extend vertically from longitudinal ends of the horizontal part 121. The distribution device 200 may be detachably mounted in a space formed by the horizontal part 121 and the plurality of vertical parts 122.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the distribution device 200 of the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the distribution device 200 in a state in which respective constituent members are connected. FIGS. 8 to 10 are perspective views illustrating respective refrigerant pipe assemblies of the distribution device 200. Further, FIGS. 11 and 12 are front and perspective views illustrating a cover assembly of the distribution device 200, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a connection state of the outdoor device, the indoor devices, and the distribution device of the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment.

The distribution device 200 may be disposed in the mounting space within the outdoor device case 110, as described above, and may include a liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A and a vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B, respectively, connected to the indoor devices 300A to 300E and the outdoor device 100, and a cover assembly 210 that surrounds the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A and the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B.

The cover assembly 210 may form an external appearance of the distribution device 200, and the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B may be received in the cover assembly 210. The cover assembly 210 may include a first cover 211 that exposes the indoor device-side connection parts 270 (270-1˜270-5) of the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B to the outside.

The first cover 211 may include a first region 211 a and a second region 211 b disposed so as to be partially exposed to the outside through the opening of the outdoor device case 110, and provided with first through holes 215 and second through holes 216 to, respectively, expose to the outside the indoor device-side connection parts 270 (270-1˜270-5) of the liquid and vapor refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B. The first cover 211 may be configured such that the first region 211 a and the second region 211 b may be disposed in a stepped manner. Thereby, the first region 211 a may protrude to the outside further in comparison with the second region 211 b, or the second region 211 b may protrude to the outside further in comparison with the first region 211 a. Because the indoor device-side connection parts 270 (270-1˜270-5) of the distribution device 200 are exposed to the outside through the opening of the outdoor device case 110, a worker may perform refrigerant connecting work with the indoor devices through the opening.

Further, because indoor device-side high pressure sockets 271-1˜271-5 of the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A and indoor device-side low pressure sockets 275-1˜275-5 of the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B may be exposed to the outside through the respective stepped regions 211 a and 211 b of the first cover 211, the worker may easily perform the connecting work without interference with the neighboring indoor device-side connection parts 270.

Further, with reference to FIG. 11, the first cover 211 may be divided into the first region 211 a and the second region 211 b in a widthwise direction, and the plurality of first through holes 215 and the plurality of second through holes 216 may be formed through the respective regions 211 a and 211 b in a lengthwise direction. Each second through hole 216 may be located between two neighboring two first through holes 215.

With reference to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 11 to 13, the cover assembly 210 may further include a plurality of covers connected to the first cover 211 and assembled with each other, so as to form an inner space to receive the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B. In one embodiment, the cover assembly 210 may further include a second cover 212 connected to the first cover 211 and forming at least two side surfaces, a third cover 213, respectively, connected to the first and second covers 211 and 212 and forming another side surface and a lower surface, and a fourth cover 214, respectively, connected to the first, second, and third covers 211, 212, and 213 and forming an upper surface.

Any of the various covers, and in particular, the fourth cover 214 may be formed by injection molding, so as to increase water-tightness and air-tightness. First and second insertion holes 214 a and 214 b to expose the outdoor device-side connection part 250 (251 and 255) of the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B to the outside may be formed through the fourth cover 214.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, configurations of the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B will now be described in more detail. The distribution device 200 in accordance with an embodiment may include the cover assembly 210, which may be formed in a square column, and the indoor device-side connection parts 270, which may be connected to the plurality of indoor devices 300A to 300E, may be provided on one of the side surfaces of the cover assembly 210.

This embodiment illustrates the distribution device 200 provided with five indoor device-side connection parts 270 (270-1, 270-2, 270-3, 270-4, and 270-5) so as to be connected to five indoor devices 300A to 300E. However, the number of the indoor device-side connection parts 270 may be varied according to a capacity of the compressor. If the capacity of the compressor is increased, the number of the indoor device-side connection parts 270 may be increased.

The sub controller 400, which may control electronic expansion valves provided in the distribution device 200, may be mounted on one side surface of the second cover 212 of the cover assembly 210 opposite to the first cover 211 exposing the indoor device-side connection parts 270. The sub controller 400 may include a substrate 410, on which a communication device for communication with the main controller (not shown) of the outdoor device 100, may be mounted, and a housing 420 that surrounds the substrate 410. The sub controller 400 may be provided to control the electronic expansion valves or valves provided in the distribution device 200, separately from the main controller provided in the outdoor device 100.

An electronic circuit that controls the electronic expansion valves or the valves, which may be provided in the distribution device 200 and adjust a flow of the refrigerant or decompress (or expand) the refrigerant, may be mounted on the substrate 410 within the housing 420. Therefore, the substrate 410 provided within the housing 420 may be configured so as to control only the electronic expansion valves in the distribution device 200.

If the distribution device 200 is mounted at the outside of the outdoor device 100, the housing 420 of the sub controller 400 may be additionally mounted on the cover assembly 210. On the other hand, if the distribution device 200 is mounted in the outdoor device 100, it is not necessary to separately provide the cover assembly 210 because the electronic expansion valves within the cover assembly 210 may be directly connected to the main controller of the air conditioner provided in the outdoor device 100. Therefore, the housing 420 may be detachably mounted on the outer surface of the cover assembly 210.

If the housing 420 is mounted on the distribution device 200, an entrance hole 219 to pass cables to connect the electronic expansion valves provided in the distribution device 200 to the sub controller 400 may be provided on the cover assembly 210 and the housing 420 at corresponding positions. The entrance hole 219 may be formed on any one side surface of the cover assembly 210, in order to provide the distribution device 200 with an aesthetically pleasing external appearance and to shorten a distance of the cables. For example, the entrance hole 219 may be formed on the second cover 212 of the cover assembly 210, on which the housing 420 may be mounted.

Further, in order to increase convenience in cable connection, the entrance hole 219 may be a slit, a partial region of which is open. The cables connected to the electronic expansion valves in the distribution device 200 may be disposed in the slit, and then, the second cover 212 may be connected to the third cover 213, thereby assembling the cover assembly 200.

Further, a sealing member (not shown) may be provided between the cover assembly 210 and the housing 420. The sealing member may prevent the introduction of foreign substances, such as rainwater or moisture, therein, although the distribution device 200 is installed outdoors.

If the distribution device 200 is installed at the outside of the outdoor device 100, an installation place or an installation direction of the distribution device 200 may be restricted. Therefore, in order to flexibly install the distribution device 200, a main pipe 220 of the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A of the distribution device 200 and a main pipe 280 of the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B of the distribution device 200 may be provided with at least one expansion part 222 and at least one expansion part 282.

The pipe expansion parts 222 and 282 may be obtained by expanding inner diameters of the main pipe 220 of the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A and the main pipe 280 of the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B, extended to the outside through the upper surface of the cover assembly 210. The pipe expansion parts 222 and 282, each of which may have an expanded inner diameter, may be, for example, cut, and then the other refrigerant pipes connected thereto. The pipe expansion parts 222 and 282 may be provided on portions of the main pipe 220 of the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A and the main pipe 280 of the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B, which may extend vertically so as to be located above the cover assembly 210 of the distribution device 20.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, in order to mount the pipe connection part 150 of the outdoor device 100 and the outdoor device-side connection part 250 of the distribution device 200 in a horizontal direction, the pipe connection part 150 of the outdoor device 100 may be disposed in the horizontal direction, and the main pipe 220 of the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A and the main pipe 280 of the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B may be bent, such that the outdoor device-side connection part 250 provided at ends of the main pipe 220 of the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A and the main pipe 280 of the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B may be disposed in a direction corresponding to a disposition direction of the pipe connection part 150. However, such a connection structure may be obtained only if the distribution device 200 is mounted within the outdoor device 100. On the other hand, if the distribution device 200 is mounted at a separate installation place other than the inside of the outdoor device 100, the outdoor device-side connection part 250 of the distribution device 200 does not need to have the bent structure, as shown in FIG. 5.

It is noted that welding of pipes having similar diameters under a condition that no pipe expansion part is formed may cause a lowering of work efficiency or deterioration of reliability of connection between the pipes, compared with welding of pipes under the condition that one pipe is inserted into the other pipe.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate inner pipes of the distribution device 200 of the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment. In more detail, FIG. 8 illustrates a pipe structure of the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A, which distributes or decompresses (expands) the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor device, and FIG. 9 illustrates a pipe structure of the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B.

For convenience of description, a set of pipes, for example, the liquid refrigerant pipe assembly 200A, which distributes or decompresses (expands) the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor device 100, and then, supplies the distributed or decompressed refrigerant to the plurality of indoor devices 300A to 300F during the cooling cycle, may be referred to as a high pressure part 200A, and a set of pipes, for example, the vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B, which collects the refrigerant from the plurality of indoor devices 300A to 300F and then, supplies the collected refrigerant to the outdoor device 100 during the cooling cycle, may be referred to as a low pressure part 200B.

The high pressure part 200A may be a main refrigerant assembly. An outdoor device-side high pressure socket 251 of the above-described outdoor device-side connection part 250 may be provided at one end of the main pipe 220 of the high pressure part 200A, and may be connected to the high pressure socket 151 of the pipe connection part 150 at a side of the compressor 170.

A distributor 240 may be provided at the other end of the main pipe 220. The distributor 240 may distribute the refrigerant to first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5 that decompress or expand the refrigerant supplied to the respective indoor device-side connection parts 270-1, 270-2, 270-3, 270-4, and 270-5. First to fifth liquid branch pipes 241-1, 241-2, 241-3, 241-4, and 241-5 that guide the refrigerant to the first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5 may be provided at the distributor 240. The first to fifth liquid branch pipes 241-1, 241-2, 241-3, 241-4, and 241-5 may be branched from the distributor 240, and may be connected to the respective electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5.

The refrigerant supplied through the first to fifth liquid branch pipes 241-1, 241-2, 241-3, 241-4, and 241-5 may be, respectively, decompressed or expanded by the first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5, and then, may be, respectively, supplied to the first to fifth indoor devices 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D, and 300E provided in respective air conditioning spaces through the first to fifth indoor device-side high pressure sockets 271-1, 271-2, 271-3, 271-4, and 271-5 of the indoor device-side connection parts 270. In this case, the first to fifth indoor device-side high pressure sockets 271-1, 271-2, 271-3, 271-4, and 271-5 may be, respectively, connected to the first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5 by first to fifth liquid connection pipes 265-1, 265-2, 265-3, 265-4, and 265-5.

Further, in order to transmit a control signal to the first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5 to, respectively, control the same, the first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5 may be, respectively, provided with first to fifth communication line connection parts 261-1, 261-2, 261-3, 261-4, and 261-5. The control signal supplied from the main controller provided in the outdoor device may be transmitted to the first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5 through the first to fifth communication line connection parts 261-1, 261-2, 261-3, 261-4, and 261-5, and then, may control the first to fifth electronic expansion valves 260-1, 260-2, 260-3, 260-4, and 260-5, thereby adjusting flow amounts of the refrigerant and expanding (decompressing) the refrigerant.

The vapor refrigerant pipe assembly 200B may include first to fifth vapor branch pipes 277-1, 277-2, 277-3, 277-4, and 277-5, which may be branched from the main pipe 280 at a predetermined interval toward the indoor device-side low pressure sockets 275-1, 275-2, 275-3, 275-4, and 275-5 of the indoor device-side connection parts 270-1, 270-2, 270-3, 270-4, and 270-5. The main pipe 280 of the low pressure part 200B, as shown in FIG. 9, when the refrigerant recovered from the first to fifth indoor units 300A, 300B, 300C, 300D, and 300E provided in the respective air conditioning spaces is collected by the indoor device-side low pressure sockets 275-1, 275-2, 275-3, 275-4, and 275-5 and the first to fifth vapor branch pipes 277-1, 277-2, 277-3, 277-4, and 277-5 through refrigerant pipes, may collect the refrigerant, and then, gather the refrigerant toward the outdoor device-side low pressure socket 255.

A separate distributor need not be provided on the main pipe 280. However, a distributor connecting the first to fifth vapor branch pipes 277-1, 277-2, 277-3, 277-4, and 277-5 and the main pipe 280 may be provided in consideration of a heating cycle.

FIG. 10 illustrates an assembled state of the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B in the distribution device with the first cover 211 in the air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment. The respective refrigerant pipe assemblies 200A and 200B may include the main pipes 220 and 280 having the low pressure socket 251 and the high pressure socket 255 of the outdoor device-side connection part 250, and the plurality of branch pipes branched from the main pipes 220 and 280 and, respectively, provided with fastening parts 279 and 278 to be fastened to the first cover 211.

Further, with reference to FIG. 11, a plurality of fastening holes 217 and a plurality of fastening holes 218 to be fastened to the fastening parts 279 and 278 of the respective branch pipes may be formed through the first cover 211. The respective through holes 215 and 216 of the first cover 211 may be formed in a polygonal shape, and the respective branch pipes disposed in the through holes 215 and 216 may have a cross-section formed in a polygonal shape corresponding to the polygonal shape of the respective through holes 215 and 216.

Therefore, if the indoor device-side connection parts 270-1, 270-2, 270-3, 270-4, and 270-5 of the respective branch pipes are connected to the respective indoor devices 300A to 300E through refrigerant pipes, the respective branch pipes may maintain a fitted state thereof in the respective through holes 215 and 216, and may not move during the connecting process. Further, the fastening part 278 or 279 of each branch pipe may be connected to the first cover 211 by one connector. The connector may be, for example, a screw. That is, each branch pipe may be connected to the first cover 211 by a screw, thereby reducing manpower and reducing the number of fastening components.

Further, the distribution device 200 may further include a plurality of mounting brackets 500 fastened to the cover assembly 210. The mounting brackets 500 may serve to fix the distribution device 200 to an installation wall at the outside of the outdoor device 100.

The mounting brackets 500 may be fastened, for example, to one of the second cover 212 and the third cover 213. In this embodiment, the mounting brackets 500 may be fastened into fastening holes to fasten the second cover 212 and the third cover 213 to each other.

As described above, an air conditioner in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may minimize lengths of pipes connecting a plurality of indoor devices and an outdoor device, facilitate connection of respective refrigerant pipes to a distribution device, and reduce manpower and a number of fastening components.

Further, the air conditioner in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may not require a separate cable to transmit/receive a control signal between the plurality of indoor devices and the distribution device.

Moreover, the air conditioner in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein may facilitate an assembly process of the distribution device, and reduce manpower and the number of assembly components.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner which may minimize lengths of pipes connecting a plurality of indoor devices and an outdoor device, facilitate connection of respective refrigerant pipes to a distribution device, and reduce manpower and a number of fastening components.

Embodiments disclosed herein further provide an air conditioner which may not require a separate cable to transmit/receive a control signal between the plurality of indoor devices and the distribution device.

Embodiments disclosed herein additionally provide an air conditioner that may facilitate an assembly process of a distribution device, and reduce manpower and a number of assembly components.

Thus, embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner that may include an outdoor unit or device including a main controller, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a compressor; a plurality of indoor units or devices, each of which may include an indoor heat exchanger; and a distribution unit or device connected to the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units, and including liquid and vapor refrigerant pipe assemblies provided with electronic expansion valves mounted thereon, a cover assembly that surrounds the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies, and a sub controller communicable with the main controller. The electronic expansion valves may be controlled by the main controller or the sub controller, selectively.

Embodiments disclosed herein further provide an air conditioner that may include an outdoor unit or device including an outdoor unit or device case, provided with an opening formed at one side, in which a main controller, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a compressor may be disposed; a plurality of indoor units or devices, each of which may include an indoor heat exchanger; and a distribution unit or device detachably mounted in the outdoor unit, and including liquid and vapor refrigerant pipe assemblies provided with electronic expansion valves mounted thereon, a cover assembly that surrounds the respective refrigerant pipe assemblies, and a sub controller communicable with the main controller. The electronic expansion valves may be controlled by the main controller or the sub controller, selectively.

Embodiments disclosed herein additionally provide an air conditioner that may include a plurality of indoor units or devices; an outdoor unit or device including a compressor that compresses a refrigerant and a main controller that adjusts amounts of the refrigerant discharged to the plurality of indoor units; and a distribution unit or device including a sub controller that distributes the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units and then adjusts amounts of the distributed refrigerant The amounts of the refrigerant distributed through the distribution unit may be adjusted by the main controller or the sub controller, selectively.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1. An air conditioner, comprising: an outdoor device including a main controller, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a compressor; a plurality of indoor devices, each of which includes an indoor heat exchanger; and a distribution device connected to the outdoor device and the plurality of indoor devices, and including liquid and vapor refrigerant pipe assemblies provided with electronic expansion valves mounted thereon, and a sub controller that communicates with the main controller, wherein the electronic expansion valves are controlled by the main controller or the sub controller, selectively.
 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the distribution device is mounted or embedded in the outdoor device.
 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the distribution device further comprises a cover assembly that surrounds the refrigerant pipe assemblies.
 4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the cover assembly includes a first cover provided with a plurality of through holes that expose indoor device-side connection parts of the liquid and vapor refrigerant pipe assemblies to the outside.
 5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the cover assembly further comprises a second cover disposed opposite to the first cover and provided with an outer surface on which the sub controller is mounted.
 6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein an entrance hole to pass cables connecting the electronic expansion valves and the sub controller is formed on the second cover.
 7. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein a slit to pass cables connecting the electronic expansion valves and the sub controller is formed on the second cover.
 8. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the cover assembly further includes a third cover fastened to the second cover and forming a side surface, and the distribution device further includes a plurality of mounting brackets fastened to one of the second cover or the third cover to fix the distribution device to an installation surface.
 9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of mounting brackets is fastened to a fastening hole to fasten the second cover and the third cover.
 10. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the sub controller includes a housing mounted on an outer surface of the second cover, and a substrate disposed within the housing and provided with a communication device mounted thereon.
 11. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of through holes comprise a plurality of first through holes and a plurality of second through holes, and wherein the first cover is divided in a widthwise direction into a first region provided with the plurality of first through holes and a second region provided with the plurality of second through holes.
 12. The air condition according to claim 11, wherein each second through hole is located between two neighboring first through holes.
 13. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein the first region is stepped with respect to the second region.
 14. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the distribution device is detachably mounted in the outdoor device case by a mounting member.
 15. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein the mounting member is configured to support a lower surface and at least two side surfaces of the distribution device.
 16. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein each refrigerant pipe assembly includes a main pipe provided with an outdoor device-side connection part, and a plurality of branch pipes branched from the main pipe and, respectively, provided with the electronic expansion valves mounted thereon.
 17. The air conditioner according to claim 16, wherein the main pipe includes a pipe expansion part.
 18. The air conditioner according to claim 16, wherein the outdoor device-side connection part comprises an outdoor device side high pressure socket.
 19. The air conditioner according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of branch pipes comprises a liquid branch pipe and a liquid connection pipe in communication with the electronic expansion valve.
 20. The air conditioner according to claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of branch pipes further comprises an indoor device high pressure socket in communication with the liquid connection pipe.
 21. An air conditioner, comprising: an outdoor device including an outdoor device case, in which a main controller, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a compressor are disposed, wherein the outdoor device case is provided with an opening formed at one side; a plurality of indoor devices, each of which includes an indoor heat exchanger; and a distribution device detachably mounted in the outdoor device, and including liquid and vapor refrigerant pipe assemblies provided with electronic expansion valves mounted thereon, and a sub controller that communicates with the main controller, wherein the electronic expansion valves are controlled by the main controller or the sub controller, selectively.
 22. The air conditioner according to claim 21, wherein the distribution device further comprises a cover assembly that surrounds the refrigerant pipe assemblies.
 23. The air conditioner according to claim 22, wherein the cover assembly includes a first cover provided with a plurality of through holes that expose indoor device-side connection parts of the liquid and vapor refrigerant pipe assemblies to the outside.
 24. The air conditioner according to claim 23, wherein the cover assembly further comprises a second cover opposite to the first cover and provided with an outer surface on which the sub controller is mounted.
 25. The air conditioner according to claim 24, wherein an entrance hole to pass cables connecting the electronic expansion valves and the sub controller is formed on the second cover.
 26. The air conditioner according to claim 24, wherein a slit to pass cables connecting the electronic expansion valves and the sub controller is formed on the second cover.
 27. The air conditioner according to claim 24, wherein the sub controller includes a housing mounted on the outer surface of the second cover, and a substrate disposed within the housing and provided with a communication device mounted thereon.
 28. The air conditioner according to claim 24, wherein the distribution device further includes a plurality of mounting brackets fastened to the cover assembly to fix the distribution device to an installation surface at an outside of the outdoor device.
 29. The air conditioner according to claim 21, wherein a mounting member that supports the distribution device is provided at the opening of the outdoor device case.
 30. The air conditioner according to claim 29, wherein the mounting member is configured to support a lower surface and at least two side surfaces of the distribution device.
 31. The air conditioner according to claim 21, wherein each refrigerant pipe assembly includes a main pipe provided with an outdoor device-side connection part, and a plurality of branch pipes branched from the main pipe and, respectively, provided with the electronic expansion valves mounted thereon.
 32. The air conditioner according to claim 31, wherein the main pipe includes a pipe expansion part.
 33. The air conditioner according to claim 31, wherein the outdoor device-side connection part comprises an outdoor device side high pressure socket.
 34. The air conditioner according to claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of branch pipes comprises a liquid branch pipe and a liquid connection pipe in communication with the electronic expansion valve.
 35. The air conditioner according to claim 34, wherein each of the plurality of branch pipes further comprises an indoor device high pressure socket in communication with the liquid connection pipe.
 36. The air conditioner according to claim 31, wherein the plurality of branch pipes is exposed toward the opening of the outdoor device case.
 37. The air conditioner according to claim 21, further comprising a cover member that selectively opens and closes the opening of the outdoor device case.
 38. An air conditioner, comprising: a plurality of indoor devices; an outdoor device including a compressor that compresses a refrigerant and a main controller to adjust amounts of the refrigerant discharged to the plurality of indoor devices; and a distribution device including a sub controller that distributes the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor device to the plurality of indoor devices and then adjusts amounts of the distributed refrigerant, wherein amounts of the refrigerant distributed through the distribution device are adjusted by the main controller or the sub controller, selectively. 